Complement vs Compliment
The words complement and compliment are commonly confused in English. Once you've read through this lesson, your friends will compliment you on your mastery of English.
Mistakes + difficulties
Even native English speakers make mistakes. Check out these lessons to improve your English spelling, grammar, and word choices.
Could have vs Could of
The phrase could have refers to something that was possible but did not occur in the past. In informal speech, it is contracted to could've, not could of.
Despite vs In spite of
The English terms in spite of and despite are very similar in meaning and usage; in spite of this, English speakers sometimes find them confusing.
Do vs Make
English has two verbs, "to do" and "to make," that are both equivalent to a single verb in some languages, which makes it difficult for speakers of those languages to know which one to use in any given situation. Understanding the difference in meaning is key to knowing which verb you need. Dropping the final -e
Whether to drop the final -e on English words before adding a suffix can be confusing for some English speakers.
e.g. vs i.e.
The Latin abbreviations e.g. and i.e. are commonly used in English, and nearly as commonly mixed up. If this sounds like you, i.e., you are never sure whether to use e.g. or i.e., read through this lesson to learn the difference.
Either and Neither
The English words either and neither can cause some problems for native and non-native speakers of English. Sometimes you can use either one and sometimes you have to choose either one or the other, but neither one is very difficult. Everyday vs Every day
Everyday and every day are commonly confused in English. There's no difference in pronunciation, but using the wrong one when writing is a mistake in the everyday English you use every day. Farther vs Further
These two English words are very similar; keep reading for further information.
Fewer vs Less
The words fewer and less are commonly confused in English, or rather, less is used while fewer tends to fall by the wayside. You'll be less confused and make fewer mistakes after reading through this lesson.
Good vs Well
The English words good and well are often confused by native and non-native speakers of English - this is a good lesson that will put you well on your way to understanding the difference. Hers vs Her’s
What's the difference between hers and her's? Find out the amazingly easy way to know which one to use. I before E
Whether to spell any given word with ie or ei can often stump native English speakers. In school many of us were taught the mnemonic device "I before E except after C or when sounding like A as in 'neighbor' and 'weigh.' " This is a fairly good rule, but it has a lot of exceptions.
I vs Me
Mistakes made with the English pronouns I and me have been increasing exponentially for years. The difference is actually very simple - let me explain it to you. Imply vs Infer
The English verbs imply and infer are often confused by English speakers. That's not to imply that you're one of them, but if that's how you infer it, go ahead and read this lesson.